2017

For 2016, our game of the year awards were complete sarcasm. All we could come up with were jokes. 2017 is a way different story, however, thanks to the Nintendo Switch and its excellent line-up of year one support from Nintendo, indies, and 3rd parties alike. Buckle up as we dish out 2018 individual awards to a wide variety of well-deserving games!

In the coming year, as we forge into the fast-approaching unknown, may the enjoyment we derive from our leisure activities grow. Whenever those opportunities present themselves, however often or not, may they find us smiling. I hope that we find games that make us happy. For some it will be our favorite developers’ newest creative endeavors. Others will rely on retro titles revisited for the “nth” occasion. Console loyalists, PC gamers, mobile gamers, all. May 2018 be a year of gratitude for the art in our medium.

Lastly, may 2018 be the year in which we play together, more than any year before. The love of a community amplifies mirth. Join me in raising a glass (filled whatever it is you toast with). To the Crew and all other gamers out there. May we have a blessed 2018.

Fall is already upon us. Leaves are changing, the air is becoming cool and crisp, and good games are seemingly being released left and right. Alas, this blog is not about the season, but about 2017 as a whole. Yes, we have a few more months before it wraps up, but in less than a week, Nintendo’s juggernaut, Super Mario Odyssey will finally be released. I for one cannot wait to sink my teeth into this game. Having already received a perfect score, I think we are in for a fun ride. That being said, I want to focus on what has already been released, and why I think 2017 has been one of the most glorious years for gaming in recent history.

Nintendo is a company that fans expect a lot of. They always seem to set the bar of quality game design higher and higher. Take Breath of the Wild for instance. This game takes the best aspects of the franchise and capitalizes on what makes it great. I felt no greater sense of adventure since I was a young kid playing Super Mario 64 or Ocarina of Time for the first time. This is undoubtedly special, and why so far Breath of the Wild is currently* game of the year for me.

*subject to change

A franchise that was essentially brought back from the dead this year is Metroid. Samus Returns does everything that I was hoping it would. Appealing visuals and tight controls, along with the new melee addition, make for a really addictive journey. I would love to see the developer have free reigns and make a brand-new Metroid game.

This year in particular, smaller, more tightly knit developers are also getting more attention. Sonic Mania is living proof that sometimes, fans know exactly what is best for a franchise. The game was made by only a handful of inspired and passionate people, and look what resulted. The same can be said for the recently released Cuphead. Though not on a Nintendo platform, I couldn’t pass this one up. The 1930’s art style is one that I have never seen before in a game, and pushing through the brutally hard difficulty is so worth it only to experience more. My point is, gamers are starting to appreciate the hand crafted, quality approach, and developers are responding.

A Game of Year Contender for sure. Competition is fierce this year.

The release of the Switch was also monumental, and completely necessary, to erase painful memories of the Wii U era. I love that Nintendo doesn’t feel the need to compete with competitors by powerful processing or graphics, but with intuitive design. A portable home system is something that will pave the way for years to come. When Nintendo becomes irreverent in the industry, Nintendo is at its strongest. We were also fortunate enough to get the SNES classic, so I can replay some of my favorite games of all time the way they were meant to be played.

Perhaps I consider 2017 so impressive because it made franchises relevant again. It made Nintendo relevant again. No, we didn’t get a new Animal Crossing game or a Pikmin game (at least not the type I’d want to see), but we did get a plethora of games that were not afraid to redefine themselves. When I look back on the year and reflect, I see a year of revitalization. A year of redefining what gamers actually want: quality.

Anyone at Nintendo looking to hire a couple of professional E3 consultants?

E3 (AKA Gamer Christmas) is coming around the corner once again, and this year will mark the first time Switch content has been shown at the convention. Will Nintendo take this opportunity to get everyone on board the hype train, or will they play it too conservative? Scott and Simeon are presenting their wishlist, and if Nintendo were to follow it, their fans would be pretty happy.

If you’re reading this, and you’re an indie developer, get in touch with us on the Contact page. <3

We love independent video game developers (affectionately referred to as “Nindies”). Why? Because they’re the underdogs – the small studios that are going toe-to-toe with giant corporate competitors. And oftentimes, they’re the ones that innovate and bring us the most interesting experiences, the ones that deserve further pondering and reflection after their completion. And so, going into a new console generation on the Nintendo Switch without stopping to examine the indie offerings would be a big mistake! These are the games to watch for in the coming months – don’t miss them!

Goodbye 2016, hello 2017! We did pretty good on our goals from last year, so it’s time to set some all new resolutions for the coming year. And we’re gamers at the core, so each one of our goals is related to bettering ourselves as video game players and Nintendo fans during the next 365 days. We Have recently started playing over watch which is a great game, we even found this website for Overwatch boosting to help make our gaming experience more fun. Did you make any New Year’s Resolutions? What did you think of ours? Let us know in the comments below.

As a Nintendo fan, I’m frustrated. if I were a Nintendo investor, I would be frustrated AND worried.

The patience of Nintendo fans is dreadfully thin, if not already gone. Nintendo hasn’t let a word slip about the NX for months and we’re expected to be primed for purchase in March! Scott presents three compelling cases for why the video game manufacturer is maintaining tight lips.